President John Evans Atta-Mills will on Friday, 5th November, 2010, commission the second phase of the Ho-Fume road to mark the beginning of construction works from Vane through Amedzofe to Fume in the Volta Region. President Mills last year cut sod for construction of the 1st phase of the project which stretched from Ho to Vane. It has been completed and providing easy access to communities such Kpedze, Akome and surrounding villages. The sod-cutting for the 2nd phase coincides with the celebration of this year’s annual ‘Rice Festival’ for the people of Avatime. The week-long festival which officially began on Monday, 1st November, 2010, will be climaxed on Saturday, 6th November at Vane. The Rice Festival which has not been celebrated observed for the past two decades for various reasons, has been revived with the aim of encouraging more youths from the area to venture into rice farming. The Paramount Chief of Avatime Traditional Area, Osie Adjatekpor VII, is asking the government not to make its programmes of agriculture be a mere talk. According to the Osie, rice farming has become the sustainable economic activity for the people in the area which must be supported to give a better future to the youth who are eagerly looking for non-existing jobs in the cities. Story: Jerry Tsatro Mordy/Asempa News